News

News

Paris, 5 May—Eight sites demonstrating the
great diversity of our planet’s geology have received the UNESCO Global Geopark
label on 5 May, when UNESCO’s Executive Board endorsed the decisions made by
the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council during its first session in Torquay, UK,
last September.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are territories that
promote geodiversity through community-led initiatives to enhance regional
sustainable development. They help monitor and promote awareness of climate
change and natural disasters and many of them help local communities prepare disaster
mitigation strategies.

With this year’s eight additions, the world
network now numbers 127 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 35 countries. They celebrate
the 4.6-billion-year history of our planet and the geodiversity that has shaped
every aspect of our lives and societies. Furthermore, Geoparks create
opportunities for sustainable tourism, whose importance has been recognized by
the United Nations, which named 2017 as International Year of Sustainable
Tourism for Development.

The eight newly designated sites are:

Arxan (China)

Arxan is a mid-low mountain region situated
in China’s Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia. With 35 well-exposed volcanoes
that are over 2.5million years old, Arxan features an exceptionally dense
concentration of volcanic landforms, with a rich variety of lakes and natural
springs. The UNESCO Global Geopark has developed extensive sustainable rural
tourism services which offer the visitor a rare and unusual experience of a northern
Chinese frontier area.

Causses du Quercy (France)

The Causses du Quercy UNESCO Global Geopark
is located in the southwest of France, at the northern end of the Midi-Pyrénées
region. It features a unique karst heritage shaped by a unique geological
history that led to the formation of phosphate caves containing thousands of
perfectly preserved fossils that recorded life conditions 52 to 20 million
years ago. It makes this area a true “natural evolution laboratory”. The study
of these fossils is part of a participatory science education programme,
Graines de paléontologues ("paleontologists seeds") for elementary
and secondary school students.

Cheongsong (Republic of Korea)

Cheongsong UNESCO Global Geopark is located
in the central eastern area of the Republic of Korea. Its name is derived from
“Cheongbo” and “Songsang,” meaning “green treasure” and “pine tree ecology,”
respectively. The volcanic rocks in Cheongsong have exceptionally high silica
content, which caused the hot lava that flowed from the area’s volcanos to form
balls of dark and light layers as it cooled down. This has resulted in a unique
and beautiful type of rock, locally called the Flower Stone.

Comarca Minera, Hidalgo (Mexico)

The Comarca Minera, Hidalgo UNESCO Global
Geopark is located in the State of Hidalgo, to the east of central Mexico, The
Geopark’s most remarkable geological feature are the Prismas Basalticos, basalt
or volcanic rock columns, first described in 1804 by Alexander von Humboldt,
the Prussian geographer, naturalist and explorer. The 2.58-million-year-old
Prismas Basalticos are exceptionally tall, some over 40 metres in height. They
are the most famous basalt columns in Mexico and among the tallest in the
world.

Keketuohai (China)

Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark is located
in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, in the inland area of Central
Asia. With its spectacular granite landforms, the Geopark has sometimes been
referred to as China’s Yosemite. The mainly Kazak inhabitants of the area have
a rich history and culture preserved through many distinct local traditions.
The site also features the unique Botamaoyin rock paintings, which are at least
3,000 years old.

Las Loras (Spain)

The Las Loras UNESCO Global Geopark is
located in Spain, north of Castile and León. Its high altitude limestone
moorlands, Loras, are characterized by mountainous folds of earth separated by
spectacular river canyons. They dominate a spectacular landscape of natural
fortresses that have been used by successive populations and cultures for
refuge and protection throughout history. The area is dotted by caves, limestone
cliffs, and karst landscapes resembling ruins with countless waterfalls. The
well-preserved small villages of Las Loras have fine Romanesque churches, rock
hermitages and examples of popular local architecture.

Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca (Mexico)

The Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca UNESCO Global
Geopark is located in Mexico’s mountainous Sierra Madre del Sur province. The
name of the Geopark is derived from the Mixteca civilization, which flourished
from the 2nd century BC to the 15th century AD and ended with the arrival of
the Spanish Conquistadores in the early 16th century. The UNESCO Global Geopark
features trails along which visitors guided by local residents can examine the
geological heritage of the region and its relation to ecological, historical,
archaeological and cultural features.

Qeshm Island (Iran)

Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark is an
island shaped like a dolphin in the Strait of Hormuz, off the southern coast of
Iran. Its exposed geological formations have been shaped by erosion generating
a range of spectacular landscapes and beautiful rock deserts. Its preservation
is supported by green tourism activities managed by local communities.

The Executive Board of UNESCO also endorsed
two requests for substantial extensions to two existing UNESCO Global Geoparks
in China: Leiqiong and Zigong.